Vehicular headlamp

Abstract

A vehicular headlamp includes a light source for illuminating light from the vehicular headlamp in an illumination direction; a swivel mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction horizontally rightward and leftward; a leveling mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction vertically upward and downward; and electronic control unit capable of controlling the swivel mechanism and the leveling mechanism so as to change the illumination direction toward an oncoming vehicle lane side during linear travel of a vehicle. A method of illumination control for a vehicular headlamp includes illuminating light from the vehicular headlamp in an illumination direction; and changing the illumination direction toward an oncoming vehicle lane side during linear travel of a vehicle.

1. A vehicular headlamp capable of illumination according to a light distribution pattern that does not dazzle an oncoming vehicle and capable of changing an illumination direction, the vehicular headlamp comprising:
 a swivel mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction horizontally rightward and leftward; 
 a leveling mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction vertically upward and downward; 
 illumination direction control means for controlling the swivel mechanism and leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction toward an oncoming vehicle lane side during linear travel of a vehicle; and 
 oncoming vehicle detection means capable of detecting an oncoming vehicle, 
 wherein the illumination direction control means performs the illumination direction change control when the oncoming vehicle detection means does not detect an oncoming vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. A vehicular headlamp capable of illumination according to a light distribution pattern that does not dazzle an oncoming vehicle and capable of changing an illumination direction, the vehicular headlamp comprising:
 a swivel mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction horizontally rightward and leftward; 
 a leveling mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction vertically upward and downward; 
 illumination direction control means for controlling the swivel mechanism and leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction toward an oncoming vehicle lane side during linear travel of a vehicle; and 
 preceding vehicle detection means capable of detecting a preceding vehicle, 
 wherein the illumination direction control means controls the leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction so as to deflect upward when the preceding vehicle detection means does not detect a preceding vehicle. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the illumination direction control means controls the swivel mechanism such that, using an illumination direction during linear travel as a reference, the illumination direction is deflected rightward and leftward so as to follow a steering angle of a vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preceding vehicle detection means capable of detecting a preceding vehicle, 
 wherein the illumination direction control means controls the leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction so as to deflect upward when the preceding vehicle detection means does not detect a preceding vehicle. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the illumination direction control means controls the swivel mechanism such that, using an illumination direction during linear travel as a reference, the illumination direction is deflected rightward and leftward so as to follow a steering angle of a vehicle, and
 wherein, when no oncoming vehicle or preceding vehicle is detected, the illumination direction deflected by the illumination direction control means is set as the reference for linear travel. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A vehicular headlamp comprising:
 a light source for illuminating light from the vehicular headlamp in an illumination direction; 
 a swivel mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction horizontally rightward and leftward; 
 a leveling mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction vertically upward and downward; 
 electronic control unit capable of controlling the swivel mechanism and the leveling mechanism so as to change the illumination direction toward an oncoming vehicle lane side during linear travel of a vehicle; and 
 vehicle detection device capable of detecting an oncoming vehicle, 
 wherein the electronic control unit performs the illumination direction change control when the vehicle detection device does not detect an oncoming vehicle. 
 
     
     
       7. A vehicular headlamp comprising:
 a light source for illuminating light from the vehicular headlamp in an illumination direction; 
 a swivel mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction horizontally rightward and leftward; 
 a leveling mechanism capable of changing the illumination direction vertically upward and downward; 
 electronic control unit capable of controlling the swivel mechanism and the leveling mechanism so as to change the illumination direction toward an oncoming vehicle lane side during linear travel of a vehicle; and 
 vehicle detection device capable of detecting a preceding vehicle, 
 wherein the electronic control unit controls the leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction so as to deflect upward when the vehicle detection device does not detect a preceding vehicle. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a steering angle sensor that detects a vehicle steering angle; 
 wherein the electronic control unit controls the swivel mechanism such that, using an illumination direction during linear travel as a reference, the illumination direction is deflected rightward and leftward so as to follow the vehicle steering angle. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the vehicle detection device is capable of detecting a preceding vehicle, and 
 wherein the electronic control unit controls the leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction so as to deflect upward when the vehicle detection device does not detect a preceding vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a steering angle sensor that detects a vehicle steering angle; 
 wherein the electronic control unit controls the swivel mechanism such that, using an illumination direction during linear travel as a reference, the illumination direction is deflected rightward and leftward so as to follow the vehicle steering angle, and 
 wherein, when no oncoming vehicle or preceding vehicle is detected, the illumination direction deflected by the electronic control unit is set as the reference for linear travel. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, 
 wherein electronic control unit controls the swivel mechanism and leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction only if the detected vehicle speed is above a predetermined value. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 2 , wherein the illumination direction control means controls the swivel mechanism such that, using an illumination direction during linear travel as a reference, the illumination direction is deflected rightward and leftward so as to follow a steering angle of a vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a steering angle sensor that detects a vehicle steering angle; 
 wherein the electronic control unit controls the swivel mechanism such that, using an illumination direction during linear travel as a reference, the illumination direction is deflected rightward and leftward so as to follow the vehicle steering angle. 
 
     
     
       14. The vehicular headlamp according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, 
 wherein electronic control unit controls the swivel mechanism and leveling mechanism to change the illumination direction only if the detected vehicle speed is above a predetermined value.